Sectional inner tube



^ April 8, 1952 J. A. PARTHMORE SECTIONAL INNER TUBE Filed Feb. 6. 1947 Patented Apr. 8, 17952 UNITED STATES PATENT oF'FICEf Jacob A. Parthemore, Saltsburg, Pa.

Application February 6, 1947, Serial No. 726,928

1 Claim.

This invention relates to pneumatic tires, the primary object of the invention being to provide a pneumatic tire embodying an inner tube made up of a plurality of independent pneumatic chambers, fed from a tube common to all of the chambers.

An important object of the invention is to provide a valve which will automatically control the passage of air to and from the individual chambers, to the end that the chambers may be readily deated, should it become necessary to remove the inner tube for the purpose of repair.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and inthe details of construction hereinafter described andclaimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment-of the invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the .spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmental sectional View through a tire casing equipped with a sectional inner tube constructed in accordance with the invention, one of the chambers of the tube being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through one of the valve members, showing the slide valve as in its normal position to retain the air pressure'within the chamber of the inner tube, in which the valve is positioned.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the valve, illustrating the position of the slide valve when the tube is being inflated.

Figure 6 is a. vertical sectional View through the valve, illustrating the position of the slide valve, when the inner tube is being deflated.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates a tire casing, and the reference character 6 designates the independent air chambers of the inner tube. These air chambers 6, are in communication with the inlet passageway I of the tube 8 that is vulcanized to the various air chambers. The tube 8 is also provided with an outlet passageway 9 that is in communication with the air chambers, so that air may pass from the air chambers, when it is desired to deate the chambers and remove the inner tube.

The passageways I and 9 are supplied with the usual conventional tire valves used with inner tubes.

Each of the chambers 6 is provided with a valve, through which communication between the chambers and passageways of the tube 8; is provided. Each of these valves includes a circular base indicated at IU from which the pipe' II and pipe I2 extend, the inlet pipe extending into the passageway l, while the outlet pipe I2 extends into the passageway 9. In View 'of the fact that all of these valves are of the same construction, only one valve will be described in detail. The body portion of the valve is indicated at I3, and has its lower end threaded and positioned within the circular base I0, as clearly shown by the drawing. The body portion is bored to provide a cylinder I4 in which the valve piston I5 operates, the cylinder being provided with an opening I1 in the wall thereof, for purposesY to be hereinafter more fully described.'

The VValve piston I5 is formed with a borev I1' extending into the center thereof, the bore-ITI" extending laterally at right angles, to registerj with the opening I6 as shown by Figure 5 of the drawing, so that air maypass upwardly through the valve and exhaust into the chamber, of which the valve forms a part, through the opening and bore I1.

The valve piston I5 is also formed with a bore I5' which provides a Vhousing for the 'spring pressed one way valve I 6', which valve is adapted to unseat by pressure from within the bore I'I to release air into the air chamber 6 filling the chamber when the valve piston I5 moves to a position so that bore I5 falls opposite to the opening I6 at the outer side of the valve. check valve I6' will act to seat and prevent the escape of air should the piston be thrown out-v wardly by centrifugal force to such a degree as to cause the bore I5 to register with the-opening I6 when the tire is rotating at a rapid rate of speed. Since piston I5 may compress the outer spring 2I the bore I5 will remain shut to prevent the escape of air through the opening I6. In order that the piston I5 will be maintained in its proper position within the cylinder, so that the bore I1 thereof will register with the opening IB, a groove I8 is formed within the cylinder adjacent to the bore or cylinder Ill, for the reception of the pin I9 that extends from the valve piston I5, preventing rotary movement of the piston within the cylinder.

The body portion I3 is also bored to provide a compartment 2D which is in communication with the cylinder I4, adjacent to the outer end thereof through the inner opening I'I'.

Mounted at the outer end of the cylinder I4, is a coiled spring 2| that bears against the piston I5, normally urging the piston I5 towards the base Ill thereof. Mounted at the opposite end of the piston I5,y and resting on the base Il), is a coiled spring 22, the coiled spring 2l being of a tension to normally overcome the action of the This" coiled spring 22, with the result that the normal position of the piston I5, when the tire is inflated to running pressure, will be as shown by Figure 4 of the drawing wherein the aligning openings I6 of the valve cylinder, are'- closed by the upper end ofv the piston I5. When air is being directed to the inner tube through the pipe II, to inflate the various chambers, the aii" within the passageway 1, enters the lowerfend'zof chamber I4 and passes into bore I1, the air pressure forcing piston I5 outwardly untillthe-*check valve I6 registers with theopening I6. Check\ valve I6 now is under air pressure and' the chamber is filled with air through said' valve; When the air chamber 6:becomes filled with air, theivalve will be' closed'by airpressure within-'the chamber;

When=a1l1`ofthe chambers of theT inner tube have be'come inflated, theV hose through which airi under pressure-'is being forcedinto the inner tube. will be disc'onriected'from the tube inthe usualf andA well known manner. The actioncf thefspring 2| will move the pistondownwardly against the! action of the: springY 2-2-4 andfair pressure within" the` tube 1, whereupon the piston` I5 will-'takef-the position as'sh'ownfin Figure 4fof-the drawing;v and the:- air chamber will remain: inated.

Should itbe desired toV`- rem'ovel the innerA tube for purposesv of'repair; it-'is ofcourse-:necessaryto deate thed various chambers. To accomplish this; -,airunder pressurefis directed tothe passage way,D 9 thev air entering! the. compartments* 20 through' tlie openings I2l, from' where. theY air passes'into thecylinders I4, through' the openings H'; The1 a-ir entering the cylinders. I4 will operate tot force' thefpistons I5 downwardly orv inwardly; and air under pressure is lockedfin the upperv end of thecylinders4 I4- asfshownbyFig. 6. Air rushes from the air chambers 6; through thevr openings' I6` and bores I'I. Itzwillof. course be understood that thew valve f on: the passageway Twill be held.v openby asuitable instrument-,sd thatY the air may'pass-from the various( cha-m` bers and exhaust; d'eatingthe tire to remove the innertube;

It is` obvious that-when air pressure throughtheiopenings IB, compartments-20, pipes mand' passageways 9 is relieved, the=pistons wil1-returnto' therpositions shownby.- Fig. 4 .of the drawings to `permit-the inflation. of. the Y innerl tube.

Thus-it will'rbe seenthat due to the construc- 4 tion shown and described, all of the chambers of the inner tube may be automatically deflated, by merely releasing the air in the passageway 1 of the tube 8, leaving the various chambers of the: inner' tube deilate'dlsothatth'e inner tube maybe' readily removed'.

What is claimed is:

An inner tube comprising a plurality of independent'inatable air chambers, a valve including a body portion in each chamber, the body portionV being divided into a valve cylinder and an air-f compartment, said valve cylinder having an opening establishing communication between the air" compartment and valve cylinder, said valve cylinder having an opening establishing communicationbetween: the; valve' cylinder and air chamber in which'the bodyf portion is positioned; aifloating; pisto'n operating, in the valve cylinden. said p'iston having av central bore extending. inw'ardly from the bottom thereof, and extending laterally through the side thereof, said piston havingI a valve bore adapted to' communicate: with the Icentral bore and second-mentionedlopening,,whereby air` enters they chamber, said' body portion" having ay central opening in thek bo'tto'm thereof through whicha'ir enters the cylinder" inflating` thef chamber' and exhausting from the cylinder deflating the air chamber, springs mounted within thei v'a'lv'ei cylinderVV between the: ends' thereof? and said piston, controlling the normal position' of the' piston' when the chamber' isl inflated, atube toD which said body'is-'connectedl and! with which the Ybody communica'tes; said tube: having' a passageway th'rough whichA air entersa'nd: exhaust'sfrom the ai'rf chamber tlirough the. valve cylinder," and said tube having a passageway communicating with the air compartment of the body portion of' the valve through which air under' pressure is direct'edV to on'efen'dof the p'iston, moving thepiston toa position exhausting vair' from the' air chamber.

JACOB A. PARTHEMORE.

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